 |
| Lin Yi’s 2026 Drama Line-Up Is Taking Shape: Romance, Fantasy and a Serious Glow-Up (Photo: Weibo) |
Lin Yi is stepping into 2026 with serious momentum. After a steady climb from youth romance heart-throb to a more layered leading man, the actor is now lining up a slate of new projects that signal a clear shift in tone, scale and character depth. With 2025 wrapped up and his popularity still trending upward, fans are already circling 2026 as a defining year for his career. From emotionally driven modern romance to high-concept fantasy thrillers, Lin Yi’s upcoming dramas are shaping up to show a noticeably more mature and versatile side of him.
Born on 1 January 1999, Lin Yi has come a long way since his early modelling days. Raised in Shenyang, Liaoning Province, he trained in National Standard Dance at Beijing Sport University before officially entering the industry. Since his debut in the 2017 sci-fi film Island of Hope and his breakout success in Put Your Head On My Shoulder, he has steadily built a reputation for calm charisma and emotional control on screen.
His 2025 drama Ski Into You further cemented his popularity, drawing solid ratings and bringing in a wave of new viewers just in time for his next career chapter.
Everything We Know So Far About Lin Yi’s Chinese Dramas Coming in 2026
What we know so far about Lin Yi’s confirmed upcoming dramas aiming for a 2026 broadcast. More projects are still under wraps and subject to change.
When I Meet the Moon (折月亮)
 |
| iQIYI |
When I Meet the Moon is already being tipped as one of the most talked-about modern romance Chinese dramas heading into 2026. The series follows Yun Li, a shy and socially anxious woman who enters graduate school to prove her independence, only to unexpectedly reunite with her high-school crush, Fu Shi Ze.
What starts as a tentative reconnection gradually turns into a brave, emotionally charged pursuit of love. However, unresolved trauma and clashing life paths eventually pull them apart.
Years later, with Yun Li returning from overseas and Fu Shi Ze now an acclaimed researcher, the story explores whether love can survive time, distance and personal growth.
The drama is adapted from the popular web novel Folding Moon by Zhu Yi and runs for 30 episodes as an iQIYI Original Series. It is directed by Elson Chang and stars Lu Yuxiao as Yun Li alongside Lin Yi as Fu Shi Ze. The series is currently planned for a Q3 2026 release.
Lin Yi has shared in interviews that he was drawn to Fu Shi Ze’s emotional restraint and inner conflict, describing the character as someone who appears calm on the surface but carries years of regret and longing underneath.
Fans are especially curious to see how he handles the later, more emotionally complex stages of the character’s life, which many believe will mark a noticeable evolution from his earlier romance roles.
Reactions have been overwhelmingly positive so far. Netizens praise the casting choice, saying Lin Yi and Lu Yuxiao visually fit the novel’s original character descriptions, while readers of the book are cautiously optimistic about how faithfully the emotional arcs will be adapted.
A Chan (阿禅)
 |
| Youku |
A Chan takes Lin Yi into darker and more experimental territory. This 24-episode Youku Original Series blends thriller, romance and fantasy, built around a high-concept time-travel and soul-swap narrative.
The story centres on Zhang Jing Chan and Li Wei Yi, two people whose lives become entangled after a mysterious antique pocket watch sends them back in time and causes their souls to swap bodies.
Forced to live each other’s lives, they attempt to protect their families and rewrite painful destinies, only to discover that changing fate comes with serious consequences.
Directed by Chen Chang and adapted from Ding Mo’s novel A Chan, the drama stars Lin Yi alongside Ai Mi. It is currently expected to release in late 2026, likely between Q3 and Q4.
Lin Yi has spoken about the physical and psychological challenges of playing a character whose identity constantly shifts, noting that the role demanded more detailed emotional control and sharper transitions than his previous work. Many fans see A Chan as a key test of his acting range, especially given the layered storytelling and darker tone.
Netizen reactions are more mixed but highly engaged. Some viewers are excited to see Lin Yi step away from straightforward romance and take on a riskier genre, while others admit they are waiting to see how the fantasy elements are executed. Still, most agree that the project feels like a deliberate step forward rather than a safe choice.
As of now, Lin Yi is officially confirmed to have starred in one drama during 2025, Ski Into You, which helped maintain his visibility and fanbase ahead of this busy new phase. With at least 2-3 dramas reportedly in various stages of production or preparation, 2026 is shaping up to be a packed and potentially career-defining year for him.
More titles are expected to be announced in the coming months, and schedules may still shift. Are you more drawn to the emotional slow-burn of When I Meet the Moon, or the high-stakes fantasy twists of A Chan? Drop your thoughts, predictions, and even casting wishes, because this lineup is only just getting started.